Stapling mechanism



y 1 1940- Y c. G. QUICK ET AL 2,207,413

STAPLING MECHANISM Filed Nov. 12, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 July 9, 1940, c, u c L 2,207,413

' STAPLING MECHANISM Filed Nov. 12, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VE NTO RS (2201/ G Quick Peg/hub W fibw/es Patented July 9 1940 STAPLING MECHANISM Cecil George Quick and Reginald William Fowlel,

London, Inc., York England, assignors to R. Hoe & 00., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New Application November 12, 1938, Serial No. 240,074 In Great Britain July 28, 1938 20 Claims.

This invention relates to mechanism for stapilng a plurality of webs and more especially those passing from a rotary printing machine.

When it is required to unite as they are moving a plurality of webs which are later severed into lengths to constitute multi-sheet products with the sheets fastened to one another, the uniting of the two webs can be effected either by a stapling mechanism which operates to insert 19 staples through the associated webs while they are moving, the staples being clenched over, or by a pasting mechanism which applies a line of paste to a web along a line at which another web is to be joined to-it.

Moreover, the line along whichthe webs are united may be either transverse to the direction of travel of the webs or in the same direction as the direction of travel, the first being blown commonly as a transverse join and the second as a longitudinal join.

In the usual stapling mechanism there is provided what is generally termed a stapling cylinder which takes a length of staple wire, and traverses it through a horn operating to bend 25 the wire to provide a stem part and two leg parts which project radially from the cylinder and are caused gradually to penetrate the webs as the legs of the staples are caused by the rotation of the cylinder to approach a second or die cylinder between which and the stapling cylinder the webs pass, the die cylinder operating to roll or turn over the staple legs which project through the webs.

The stapling mechanism as heretofore com- 35 monly employed has been found in practice limited for use in making a stapled transverse join, for it has been found that such stapling mechanism will not operate to insert a longitudinal staple possibly for the reason that a longitudinal staple would (in. the rotation of thestapling cylinder) present first one leg and then slightly later, the other leg to the webs and moreover while the clenching of one leg would have to be efiected by rolling one leg in the same direc- 45 tion as that in which the stapling cylinder is rotating, the clenching of the other leg would have to be eiiected by rolling the other leg in the opposite direction to that of the cylinder. It may be observed that these conditions do not occur in a transverse stapling operation as (since the staple is transverse) both legs are presented together to the webs and the clenching operation is efiected on both legs in a direction transverse to the direction of movement of the webs. What- 5 ever be the ,cause, the known stapling mechanism was not used for longitudinal stapling, and in.

cases where it was necessary to make a longitudinal join the pasting mechanism had to be resorted to to apply a longitudinal line of paste. This pasting mechanism was, however, unsatisfactory, largely on account of the nature of paste and in some cases, where it would have been more convenient to make a longitudinal join, steps were taken, to enable the stapling mechanism to be employed to permit the join to be made transversely by the staple.

The main object of the present invention is to provide an improved stapling mechanism which will be applicable for general use but will be especially applicable for use in inserting longitudinal staples.

According to the present invention the improved stapling mechanism includes a staple forming cylinder having a male forming part, a stapling cylinder having a female forming part, means operating to move the parts into cooperation to form a staple as the-parts rotate with their cylinders into register and means operating to eject the formed staple from the stapling cylinder and through the webs tobe stapled. In order to maintain the male and female parts in line for a relatively long period, (during which period the male part forces a. length of wire into the female part), at least one of these two parts has imparted to it such a movement in relation to its rotating cylinder that the two parts are held in line as the parts approach register, (and as they recede from register), despite the mounting of the parts on different cylinders.

In the preferred arrangement the female part is mounted on the stapling cylinder in a position which is fixed radially. The male part is, however, associated with means to impart to it such a movement as will cause it to move away from the axis of the staple-forming cylinder, so as to enter the female part. At the same time the male part is caused so to move angularly with respect to the rotating staple forming cylinder that it will move away from the axis in a direction which is sensibly radial to the stapling cylinder and hence is in line with the radially fixed female part.

In a preferred embodiment the male member is guided at one point to move through a path which is fixed in relation to the staple-forming cylinder and in addition at another point the male member has imparted to it a rotary movement, as it is carried round bodily by the rotation of the forming cylinder.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings as applied to a mechanism for inserting longitudinal staples, although it is to be appreciated that the mechanism could readily be adapted to insert transverse staples. In the drawings Figure 1 is a section on the line I-I Figure 2, Figure 2 a section on the line 11-11 Figure 1 and Figure 3 a detail view.

Referring to the drawings, 2 indicates a stapling cylinder provided with two diametrically opposed staple forming recesses 28, 28 and I indicates a forming cylinder provided with two staple forming plungers I, 8 to cooperate respectively with the recesses, the two cylinders being, (in use) constantly rotated. A die cylinder 8 is also constantly rotated and has two dies 88 formed with grooves 41 to clench or turn over the legs of a staple.

The forming plungers I, 8 are secured at their inner ends (i. e. the end remote from the stapling head) to bosses 85, 68 rotatable on pins 61, 88 parallel with the axis of rotation of the cylinder I. The two pins 81, 88 (one for each plunger) are supported by discs 89, 18 on shafts II, 12 which are rotatably mounted in the cylinder I with their axes of rotation parallel with the axis of rotation of the cylinder I, the axes of the pins 81, 88 being eccentric to the axes of the shafts II, I2 so that in effect the pins 81, 88 form crank pins on the shafts 1|, I2. At their ends remote from the discs 89, I8 the shafts 1|, I2 have secured to them planet pinions I8, I4 meshing with a fixed sun gear I5 secured coaxially with the axis of rotation of the forming cylinder I to a fixed frame part I8, the two planet pinions I3, I4 being at diametrically opposite points of the sun gear 75.

The bosses 85, 88 to which the forming plungers I, 8 are secured also have secured to them arms II, I8 parallel with the plungers 1, 8 and slotted at 19, 88 to receive guide or control pegs 8|, 82 on brackets 88, 84 secured to the forming cylinder I. It has been found that the position of the pegs 8|, 82 to give the required effect is just beyond the periphery of the forming cylinder I or in other words just within the periphery of the stapling cylinder 2. In order therefore to accommodate the pegs 8|, 82 and the slotted arms 11, I8 controlled by them, the periphery of the stapling cylinder 2 is cut away locally as indicated at 85, 88.

When now the forming cylinder I is rotated, the planet pinions I8, I4 are carried (by the cylinder I) around the sun gear 15 and the planet pinions being one third of the diameter of the sun gear I5 the planet pinions and hence the crank pins 61, 68 are caused to make three rotations for each rotation of the cylinder I. This causes the inner end of each forming plunger I or 8 to move in three cycles per revolution of the forming cylinder I towards and away from the axis of the forming cylinder. The peg 8| or 82 which engages the slotted arm II or I8 fast with each plunger I or 8 causes the plunger to move angularly on the cylinder. Each plunger I or 8 in addition has a further component of movement due to the rotation of the cylinder I. Only one of the three cycles is employed in a staple forming operation, the other cycles being idle. In the operative cycle, which is timed to occur as a recess 28 or 29 and plunger I or 8 approach the position of register, as the plunger I or 8 is moved away from the axis of the forming cylinder I, the plunger receives such additional angular movement as will cause it to be projected from the cylinder I in a direction passing sensibly radially to the stapling cylinder 2 and into the recess 28 or 28, the plunger continuing to move in the recess (and radially to the stapling cylinder) as the recess and plunger move into complete register. The plunger 1 or 8 then has a movement of retraction towards the axis of'the forming cylinder I and during this movement (which'occurs as the plunger and its recess reeede from the position of complete register) the plunger is maintained in line with the recess and radial to the stapling cylinder 2. The mid-point of this operative cycle is timed to occur when the plunger and recess move into complete register, the plunger I or 8 being at that time at its maximum distance from the centre of the forming cylinder I.

During the time that the forming plunger I or 8 moves into the recess 28 or 29 a length of wire 98 will be forced into the recess to form the staple, the wire being fed from a mechanism M preferably arranged to feed the wire continuously, the feed being effected by gearing 9I operating to rotate feed disc 28, 8| continuously in a direction tangentially between the forming and stapling cylinders I, 2. The mechanism M includes also a cutting blade 48 pivoted at ll on a block 89, this blade being struck by projections 48, 48 on the cylinder I so that the blade is caused to rock to sever a length of wire.

It will be apparent that by reason of the compound movement imparted to the forming plunger I or 8, the plunger and its recess are afforded alcomparatively long-time period to form a stap e.

It will be appreciated that the two forming plungers I or 8 operate to form two staples in each rotation of the forming and stapling cylinders I, 2, obviously only one plunger and recess (or more than two) could be employed.

The cylinder l is preferably constituted by two end cheeks or plates 81, 88 united by a sleeve 89 secured to a driving shaft 98 the cheeks being spaced apart to accommodate between them the discs 89, I8 and pins 81, 88 and the shafts 'II, I2 being journalled in hearings in one of the cheeks 81 with the crank pin arrangements overhanging the space between the cheeks.

A further feature consists in forming the base of the recesses 28, 29 by members 92, 93 which are free to be moved inwardly by the forming plunger I or 8 as they enter the recesses 28, 29 during the staple forming operation. Control mechanism is also provided to hold the members 92, 98 in the position to which they are moved by the forming plungers I, 8 and to move the members 92, 93 positively outwardly at a later point in the rotation of the stapling cylinder 2 so that the formed staple is forced through the webs W and clenched by the dies 45 on the die cylinder 3.

To effect this the members 92, 93 consist of plungers constituting the base of the recesses (against which base the plungers I, 8 force the staple wire to form the crown of the staple with thelegs of the staple extending radially outwards from the crown) and are pivotally connected at 94, 95 to one end of links 96, 91 whose other ends are pivotally connected to one arm 98, 99 of hell crank levers. The other arms I88, I8I of the bell crank levers have rollers I82, I83 adapted to engage the periphery of a fixed cam disc I84 having a part I of small radius and a part I 88 of larger radius. The arrangement is such that as each forming plunger 1 or 8 and recess 28 or 29 move towards complete register, each stapling plunger 92 or 93 is in its outward position and the corresponding cam roller I02, I03 is passing over the small radius part I of the cam disc I04. As the forming plunger I or 8 enters the recess 28 or 29 carrying with it a tion and so holds the roller I02, I03 and hence the corresponding stapling plunger 92 or 93 in the position to which it has been moved by the forming plunger 1 or 8. Thus when the forming plunger 1 or 8 commences to recede from the recess 28 or 29 during continued rotation of the cylindersthe stapling plunger 92 or 93 remains held by the cam. The large radius part I06 of the cam disc merges to its smaller radius part I at a point where the formed stapleis required to be projected from the stapling cylinder 2 to eflect the stapling operation. Opposite this part of the cam is a fixed cam plate I01 which provides between itself and the disc I00 a cam track into which the rollers I02, I03 enter. This track operates positively to rock the bell crank levers in a direction to move the stapling plunger 92 or 93 outwardly of the stapling cylinder and so to eject the formed staple. During this time the roller I02 or I03 moves again on to and over the small radius part I05 01 the cam and the cam plate I0! is of a length such that at the end of the stapling operation the roller I02 or I03 has left the track and is running over the small radius part of the dics. While the roller I02 or I03 is still moving over the small radius part I05, the forming plunger 1 or 8 again commences to move the stapling plunger 92 or 93 inwardly of the cylinder and the roller is again raised from the small radius part I05 of the cam disc in readiness again to rotate over and be held by the large radius part I06 of the cam. and so on.

It will be seen that with this arrangement the roller I02 or I03 being moved by the staple forming plunger I or 8 from the small radius part I05 'of the cam, moves without shock on to the large radius part I06 which operates to hold the stapling plunger 92 or 93 then (in conjunction with the plate I01) to operate through the roller to move the stapling plunger positively to effect stapling.

The bell crank levers may be biased by springs I08, I09 to urge the roller I02 or I03 towards the small radius part I05 of the cam and hence the stapling plungers 92, 93 outwardly in the cylinder 2.

While themechanism described could be located at any convenient zone in the path of the web, it is convenient to locate the cylinders at the head of the former folder when such is employed to form a longitudinal fold in the webs, the fold being along the longitudinal line of the staples.

In such a case, the die cylinder 3 could constitute the usual roller at the head of the usual former, these formers and their operation being well understood by those skilled in the art.

It will be apparent that the distance between successive longitudinal staples, (i. e. the pitch of the staples), will depend upon the diameter of the stapling and die cylinders 2, 3 and also upon the number of dies and stapling plungers in each cylinder. It is generally necessary to have a product stapled at two points and the arrangement of parts shown in the drawings is such as to effect this by having the circumferential length of the stapling and die cylinders 2, 3 equal to the required length of product and to have in these cylinders two stapling plungers 92, 93 and two dies 45 and also to provide the cylinder I with two plungers I, 0.

It will be seen that mechanism operating in accordance with this invention may be adapted to insert transverse staples with a suitable re-arrangement of the parts.

It may be here observed that the term "cylinde employed in the specification and in the annexed claims is employed in the manner common in the printing machine art to denote rotatable parts of generally cylindrical form and does not necessarily denote a cylinder in the strict sense.

What we claim is:

1. In mechanism for stapling a plurality of continuously moving webs, the combination of a staple-forming cylinder, a stapling cylinder, a male staple-forming Dart carried by the forming cylinder, a female staple-forming part carried by the stapling cylinder, means rotating the two cylinders, means operating to feed staple-forming wire between the cylinders, means operating as the cylinders rotate to move the two parts into co-operation whereby a length of wire is forced into the female part, means controlling the movement of at least one of the parts to cause it to move angularly in respect to the radius of its carrying cylinder so that the two parts are held in line for an extended period of cylinder rotation, means ejecting the formed staple from the stapling cylinder and through the webs, and means to turn over the legs of the staple extending through the webs.

2. In mechanism for stapling a plurality of continuously moving webs, the combination of a stapling cylinder having a fixed female stapleforming part, a staple-forming cylinder, a male staple-forming part, means movably supporting the male part on the forming cylinder, means rotating the two cylinders, means feeding stapleforming wire between the cylinders, means to impart to the male part such a component of movement with respect to the forming cylinder as will cause it to move into co-operation with the female part whereby a length of wire will be forced into the female part, means to impart to the male part a rocking movement in respect to the radius of the forming cylinder to hold the male part in line with the female part for a relatively long period in the rotation of the cylinders, means ejecting the formed staple from the stapling cylinder and through the webs, and means to turn over the projecting legs of the staple.

3. In mechanism for stapling a plurality of continuously moving webs, the combination of a stapling cylinder, a female staple-forming part, means mounting the female part on the stapling cylinder, a staple-forming cylinder, a male staple-forming part, means rotating the two cylinders, means mounting the male part on the staple-forming cylinder in such position that as the cylinders rotate the male and female parts move into register, means feeding staple-forming wire between the cylinders, means to move the said male and female parts into co-operation to force a length of wire into the female part, means to angularly move at least one of the male and female parts with respect to its carrying cylinder so that the two parts are maintained in line before, during and after they move into register, means continuously feeding webs to be stapled, means to force the formed staple from the stapling cylinder through the webs, and means to turn-over the legs of the staples where the legs project beyond the webs.

4. In mechanism for stapling a plurality of continuously moving webs, the combination of a stapling cylinder, a female staple forming part, means mounting the said part in a fixed angular relationship on the stapling cylinder, a staple forming cylinder, a male staple forming part, means movably mounting the said male part on the forming cylinder, means to feed staple-forming wire between the cylinders, means to rotate the cylinders, means operating as the cylinders rotate to move the male and female parts into co-operation to force a length of staple-forming wire into the female part, means operating as the cylinders rotate to impart to the male part such an angular movement with respect to the forming cylinder as will cause. the said male part to move into co-operation with the female part in line with said female part, means continuously feeding webs to be stapled, means to force the formed staple from the stapling cylinder through the webs, and means to turn-over the legs of the staples where the legs project beyond the webs.

5. In mechanism for stapling a plurality of continuously moving webs, the combination of a stapling cylinder, a female staple forming part, means mounting the said part in a fixed angular relationship on the stapling cylinder, a stapleforming cylinder, a male staple forming part, means movably mounting the said male part on the forming cylinder, means to feed staple-form! ing wire between the cylinders, means to rotate the cylinders, means operating as the cylinders rotate to impart a rotary motion to one point of the male part, whereby the male part is caused as the cylinders rotate to force a length of wire into the female part, a guide device for constraining the male part at another point to move in such a fixed path in relation to the rotating forming cylinder that the male part moves along a path in line with the female part, means continuously feeding webs to be stapled, means to force the formed staple from the stapling cylinder through the webs, andmeans to turn-over the legs of the staples where the legs project beyond the webs.

6. In mechanism for stapling a plurality of continuously moving webs, the combination of a stapling cylinder, a female staple forming part, means mounting the said part in a fixed angular relationship on the stapling cylinder, a stapleforming cylinder, a male staple forming part, means movably mounting the said male part on the forming cylinder, means to feed staple-forming wire between the cylinders, means to rotate the cylinders, a crank, means supporting the crank for rotation in the forming cylinders, means rotating the crank as the forming cylinder rotates, means connecting the male part to the crank, a guide secured to the forming cylinder, the said guide constraining the male part to move at another point in a path which is fixed in relation to the forming cylinder, the crank and guide co-operating to cause the male part to move towards and away from the female part along a line in line with the female part, and the male part forcing a length of wire into the female part to form a staple, means continuously feeding webs to be stapled, means to force the formed staple from the stapling cylinder through the webs, and means to turn-over the legs of the staples where the legs project'beyond the webs.

7. Mechanism as claimed in claim 6 and in which the crank has fast with it a gear in mesh with a fixed or sun gear, the gear on the crank being carried by rotation of the forming cylinder around the sun gear.

8. In mechanism for stapling a plurality of continuously moving webs, the combination of two carriers, means to rotate the carriers, 9. first staple forming part carried by one carrier, at second staple forming part carried by the other carrier, the two parts being so disposed on their carriers that the parts rotate into register, means to move each of the two parts toward each other into staple forming co-operation as they approach the position of register, and means to move one of the parts angularly with respect to its carrier so that the two parts will be disposed in line as they approach the position of staple forming co-operation.

9. In mechanism for stapling a plurality of continuously moving webs, the combination of two carriers, means to rotate the carriers, a first staple forming part carried by one carrier and sensibly radial thereto, a second staple forming part carried by the other carrier, and means to move the said second part towards the said first part, and means to direct said second part during its movement toward said first part in an arcuate path to maintain it in line with the first part.

10. In mechanism for stapling a plurality of continuously moving webs, a stapling cylinder, a female staple forming part in the cylinder, a member mounted for movement on said cylinder and disposed to form a base for the female part, a staple forming cylinder, means to rotate the two cylinders, a male staple-forming part so carried by the forming cylinder that the male and female parts move into register as the cylinders rotate, means to feed staple forming wire, means to move the male part into and out of the female part so that a length of staple-forming wire is forced into the female part, the said member being moved by said male part as it moves into the female part during the staple forming operation, and means to hold the member in the position to which it is moved by the male part and to subsequently displace the movable member to eject the formed staple.

11. In mechanism for stapling a plurality of continuously moving webs, a stapling cylinder, a female staple forming part in the cylinder, a member mounted for movement on said cylinder and disposed to form a base for the female part, a staple forming cylinder, means to rotate the two cylinders, a male staple-forming part so carried bythe forming cylinder that the male and female parts move into register as the cylinders rotate, means to feed staple forming wire, means to move the male part into and out of the female part so that a length of staple-forming wire is forced into the female part, the said member being forced' to move as the male part moves into the female part during the staple forming operation, and a cam mechanism having a first portion disposed as the stapling cylinder rotates to operate to hold the movable member as the male part recedes and also having a second portion to move the movable member to eject the formed staple subsequently from the female part.

12. Rotary web stapling mechanism including a staple forming cylinder and a stapling cylinder, a male staple forming part on the forming cylinder, a female staple forming part on the stapling cylinder, means to rotate the cylinders, means to cause such relative movement between at least one of the male and female parts with respect to its cylinder as will maintain the male and female parts in line for an extended period of rotation of the cylinders, means to feed staple forming wire, means operating to cause the male part to move into and out of the female part during the said extended period so that a length of staple forming wire isforced into the female part to form a staple, and means operating to eject the formed staple from the female part and through the webs to be stapled.

13. Rotary web stapling mechanism including a staple forming cylinder and a stapling cylinder, a male staple forming part on the forming cylinder, a female staple forming part on the stapling cylinder, means to rotate the cylinders, means to rock the male forming part on its cylinder as the cylinder rotates to maintain it in cooperating alignment with the'female part during an extended period of rotation of the cylinders, means to feed staple forming wire, means operating to cause the male part to move into and out of the female part during the said extended period said parts are cooperating so that a length of staple forming wire is forced into the female part to form a staple, and means operating to eject the formed staple from the female part and through the webs to be stapled.

14. In mechanism for stapling a plurality of continuously moving webs, the combination of a staple forming cylinder, a die cylinder, a stapling cylinder having a female staple forming part, a movable member constituting a base for the female part, a male staple-forming part carried by the forming cylinder, means rotating the cylinders, means guiding the webs to be stapled between the stapling and die cylinders, means feeding staple-forming wire between the stapleforming cylinder and the stapling cylinder, means moving the male part into the female part as the parts move into register so that a length of staple forming wire is thrust into the female part, the said movable member being moved by the male part as it enters the female part, and a control cam mechanism under the control of which the movable member passes before the male part recedes, the said cam having a. part to hold the movable member and a second part operable later in the rotation of the stapling cylinder to move the member whereby the formed staple is forced through the webs and the 'legs are turned over by a die on the die cylinder.

15. In mechanism for stapling a plurality of continuously moving webs, the combination of a staple-forming cylinder, a stapling cylinder, a male staple-forming part carried by the forming cylinder, a female staple-forming part carried by the stapling cylinder, means rotating the two cylinders, means operating to feed staple-forming wire tangentially between the cylinders, means operating as the cylinders rotate to move the two parts into co-operation whereby a length of wire is forced into the female part, to form a staple with its legs disposed apart circumferentially of the stapling cylinder, means controlling the movement of at least one of the parts to cause it to move angularly in respect to the forming cylinder so that the two parts are held in line for an extended period of cylinder rotation, means ejecting the formed staple from the stapling cylinder and through the webs, and means to turn over. the legs of the staple extending through the webs.

16. In mechanism for stapling a plurality of continuously moving webs, the combination of a stapling cylinder having a fixed female stapleforming part, a staple-forming cylinder, a male staple-forming part, means movably supporting the male part on the forming cylinder, means rotating the two cylinders, means feeding stapleforming wire tangentially between the cylinders, means to impart to the male part such a component of movement with respect to the forming cylinder as will cause it to move into co-operation with the female part whereby a length of wire will be forced into the female part to form a staple with its legs disposed apart circumferentially of the stapling cylinder, means to impart to the male part such a second component of movement as will hold the male part in line with the female part for a relatively long period in the rotation of the cylinders, means ejecting the formed staple from the stapling cylinder and through the webs, and means to turn over the projecting legs of the staple.

1'7. In mechanism for stapling a plurality of continuously moving webs, the combination of a' staple forming cylinder, a die cylinder, a stapling cylinder having a female staple forming part, a movable member-constituting a base for the female part, a; male stapleforming part carried by the forming cylinder, means rotating the cylinders, means guiding the webs to be stapled between the stapling and die cylinders, means feeding staple-forming wire tangentially between the staple-forming cylinder and the stapling cylinder,

means moving the male part into the female part as the parts move into register so that a length of staple forming wire is thrust into the female part to form a staple with its legs disposed apart circumferentially of the stapling cylinder, the said movable member being moved by the male part as it enters the female part, and a control cam mechanism under the control of which the movable member passes before the male part recedes, the said cam having a part to hold the movable member and a second part operable later in the rotation of the stapling cylinder to move the member whereby the formed staple is forced through the webs and the legs are turned over by a die on the die cylinder.

18. In a moving web stapling mechanism wherein staples are applied to a web with their length disposed in the direction of travel of the webs, a staple forming cylinder having a male staple forming member pivotally mounted thereon, a staple carrying cylinder having a female staple forming and ejecting member radially slidable thereon, means to rotate said cylinders in unison to dispose said staple forming members in cooperating staple forming position, means to rock said male staple forming member on said forming cylinder to register it with said female staple forming member during an extended period of cylinder rotation, and means to move said male member toward said female member to radially move it.

19. In a moving web stapling mechanism whereinstaples are applied to a web with their length disposed in the direction of travel of the webs, a staple forming cylinder having a male staple forming member pivotally mounted thereon, a

thereon, means to rotate said cylinders in unison to dispose said staple forming members in cooperating staple forming position, means to rock said male staple forming member on said forming cylinder to register it with said female forming member during an extended period of cylinder rotation, means to move said male member toward said female member to radially move it. and means to feed staple forming wire in a direction tangential to and between said cylinders.

20. In a moving web stapling mechanism wherein staples are applied to aweb with their length disposed in the direction of travel of the webs,

a staple forming cylinder having a male staple forming member pivotally mounted thereon, a staple carrying cylinder having a female staple forming and ejecting member radially slidable thereon, means to rotate said cylinders in unison to dispose said staple forming members in cooperating staple forming position, and means to rock said male staple forming member circumferentially in respect to said forming cylinder to cause it to register with said female staple formin: member during an extended period of cylinder rotation.

CECIL GEORGE QUICK.

REGINALD WILLIAM FOWLES. 

